Loyal, Goofy, & Outgoing

Danny is by far the most loyal person I know. He never turns his back on a family member, friend, or animal. I have known him for years, and he still catches me off guard at the fierceness of his devotion to the ones he loves.

I can get in my head, overthinking things, but Danny knows exactly the right thing to say to get me to lighten up or crack a smile (even if I don't want to). It is easy to find him because there is typically a ringing of laughter around him.

Danny has rarely met a person he can't find common ground with. He has the gift of "gab" and can join in or start a conversation with anyone. He is the goober in the room who keeps things interesting. - Written by Joani

Smart, Loving, & Silly

Joani enjoys learning so much that she chose to do that as her career, a middle school teacher. She worked very hard to get her Master's degree. Her favorite topics to learn about are science and history. She lives for that "light bulb" or "Ah HA!" moment and is always excited to share information with me.

One thing about Joani is that she never wants to let anyone down. She loves with all of her heart and is always there to listen. I can talk to her about anything and everything. Joani gives the best hugs by far, and can make anyone feel better or understood with a simple embrace.

I can count on her to send me random videos that she finds funny and thinks I'll enjoy. If she takes time to send it, I know she was laughing when she clicked the button. Joani catches me off guard with her noises. Whether it is a dino noise or a meow at the cats, I know it will be followed by her laugh. - Written by Danny

We have always been animal people, growing up having dogs, hamsters, gerbils, fish, frogs, rabbits, salamanders, or hermit crabs. Sadly, most animals are not allowed in our condo complex currently.

In January of 2020, we accidentally got a cat, Demon. He is affectionately known as Meowmeow, and he has orange short hair. After a few months of having Demon, we got him a friend, Gremma Lynn. She is a princess and is a long haired tort. In 2023, we got our third kitten, Shade, also known as Slim Shady, and he is a blue russian. They are all balls of sunshine!

DEMON - ORANGE SHORT HAIR

"Meowmeow", who's name is actually "Demon" (courtesy of Danny) is our first cat. We gave him the nickname "meow" because he is just too darn snuggly. We got him in January of 2020. He is friendly, but keeps his distance. Meow watches for us from the window, then meets us at the door when we get home. His favorite place to lounge is in his hammock or on Danny's head. Meow pays his dues by ferociously hunting flies, moths, and stinkbugs. He can be vocal if he is excited or irritated, but all in all, he's a purrrrbot.

GREMMI - LONG HAIR TORTIE

Gremma Lynn ("Gremlin"), also known as Gremmi, is our sassy, chunky lady. She makes sure to alert Danny when her bowl is nearly empty, meaning you can see the bottom slightly. If you ever feel sick or down, you can count on the "feel good Grem" to come snuggle you back to health. Gremmi is a downright princess, demanding water from the bathtub or to be lifted to her water fountain. She can be found sleeping upside down in the closet or dining room. She acts like she is the "fluff" but when push comes to shove, she'd rather watch you from under the bed. We got her shortly after getting Meow in 2020.

SHADE - GRAY SHORT HAIR

Shade, also known as Shaders or Shader Face or Slim Shady, joined our family in October of 2023. Since then, he has kept us on our toes. He is by far the most energetic of the three and will randomly get the zoomies. He will make you love him, allergic or not. Shade does not like to be carried, but will tolerate it if snacks or pets are involved. He loves playing fetch with his Christmas tree toy and will attack every bell and feather in ear or eye shot. Shade has been known to steal food off of our plates when were not looking, he's basically a puppy trapped in a cat's body.

We met, originally, as kids. Danny played baseball with my older brother. Fast forward 10 years, and we ended up attending the same middle school and high school. In Danny's senior year, a mutual friend set us up on a date. I was a junior. We officially started dating February 27th, 2010. We attended prom together, and Danny was "sunk" and I was straight up smitten with him.

We dated through college, and in May of 2015, Danny asked my parents for permission to marry me.

He proposed at the 4th of July fireworks. I was caught off guard and was more than excited to say yes to spend the rest of my life with my best friend.

We got married on July 1st, 2017. It was hot and sweaty, but that did not slow down the celebration.

Since then, we have continued to choose each other, love each other, and laugh with (and sometimes at) each other.

• Visit all of the Major League Baseball Stadiums, we have 4 so far
• Build a barndominium on 3 to 5 acres of land with a pool closer to work
• Joani wants to get her Doctorate
• See the Savannah Bananas every opportunity we get
• Help rescue animals and find good homes for them. Danny is the animal whisperer
• Travel to Disney, Joani has never been, but claims she was "born to be a Disney-Side kick"
• Continue to find the joy in life and laugh along the way

We live in the suburbs, twenty minutes outside of the city. In the city, we enjoy going to concerts, professional sports games, exploring the museums, wandering through the aquarium or zoo, or taking in views of the river.

Town life is quiet here, but it has started to grow in size. Summers days are spent being lazy in pools, crisp winters are full of skiing, pretty lights, and snow, springs are met with a slew of holidays and getting Grandma's garden ready, but fall is the best. Fall is back to school, sweatshirts, bonfires, and Friday Night Lights football. There's something about warming up by a fire after cheering our local football team to victory that just feels right.

We currently live in a condo complex, and our three neighbors are the cutest old ladies. Our local high school has a graduating class of around two hundred fifty students. We both grew up here and wouldn't change it for the world. It is a perfect mix of city and country, yet as the heart of a small town.

In the future, we plan to move out a bit farther, but still be close enough to enjoy the perks the city has to offer. The majority of our extended families are less than a twenty-minute drive away, and we spend a lot of time with them. Joani's parents have a house on 5 acres that substitutes for our backyard for now.

My parents, Doug and Mary, got married in 1987 and have been together since.

They have played many roles in my life, from parent to coach to friend. I know I can always count on them. Mom is a planner and wants to make sure everyone is involved. Dad is the leader of the crew; he's always looking for an opportunity to teach. Their love radiates through all of aspects of their lives.

Daniel is married to Holli, and they have a daughter, Sophi, who will be two in October 2025. Daniel is reliable and is a handy mechanic. He has driven hours to help me with car trouble. He is always willing to give his input. Holli is my friend from high school. She married my brother in September of 2017. She is so kind and is always there if you need a listening ear. Sophi is so gosh darn cute, has a bit of "sass," and loves feeding Dog-Dog her least favorite foods.

Lizzy is married to Dan, and they have four dogs. They are so cute. Lizzy and I shared a bedroom for twenty years, and yet somehow we are best friends. She is fierce in her love, and I do not take that for granted. Lizzy and I get each other on a whole different level. I guess it's a sister thing? We finish each other's songs, spend hours chatting on the phone, and love galavanting at Target. Dan joined our family a few years ago. He is such a ball of sunshine. He and Liz complement each other nicely.

My mom's side of the family consists of pappy, 14 aunts & uncles, 22 cousins, 13 married in, 26 great-grandkids, and counting. Sadly in 2024, my Grandma Jo Jo passed away after a long battle with alzheimers. We carry on her legacy by laughing a lot and giving hugs before we leave get-togethers. Not to mention sharing Christmas Cookies like she and her sisters used to. The picture at the bottom is missing 15 people or so..

My dad's side of the family is smaller. It consists of my immediate family, Uncle Mike, Uncle Greg, Grandma, and Grandpa. Grandma and I can spend hours on the back porch watching the breeze blow in the trees, chatting and giggling away. Grandpa is the patriarch of the family and wants to provide for everyone. Uncle Mike is a wonderful musician; he sings and plays the guitar. Uncle Greg is a hard worker and enjoys playing practical jokes on people; his main target is Grandma. I guess raising three boys makes you either laugh or cry, and she sure laughs. We spend Sunday afternoons together shooting the breeze and cheering on the Bengals, FC Cincy, or Reds.

In addition to having a great family backing us, we also have a wide network of friends and the community.

Danny plays softball every Thursday night with the "Softball Crew." Which

has made the joke of creating a compound, and everyone chipping in to survive. There are at least 15 families who get together. We have game nights, Friendsgiving, and watch parties for different sporting events. There are kids from newborns up to 12 in this group, and everyone cares for each other like they are family.

Joani has a "School Crew" which consists of her fellow teachers. They are wonderful and supportive. They get together for dinners, birthdays, and in the summer, pool parties! Teacher gone tanning

Last but not least, we have the "high school crew." These are friends we

went to high school with, but don't see as often. Some have moved away, others have busy schedules, but when push comes to shove, they show up.

Besties Highlight

Joani's: Bridgette and Lyndsey are her best friends and have been inseparable since the 6th grade. They are triplets, which makes things even more interesting. Lyndsey is a free spirit and lets music lead the way. Bridgette and Joani played soccer together for years, and have each other's back on and off the field. Bridgette is married to John, and they have three kids: Andrew, Sally, and Hannah. Joani is their "Auntie Jo Jo" and Sally's Godmother.

Danny's: Jesse and Flo are his best friends and have been since early elementary. Jesse and Danny talk on a daily basis and can count on him for anything. Flo is a bit busier with life, but is Danny's oldest friend. They have grown up playing sports together and still enjoy playing softball together. Both Jesse and Flo are the closest Danny has had to a brother.

Danny & Joani's: Logan has been around since the beginning of Danny and Joani's relationship. When they are not seeing eye to eye, Logan can help them find common ground. He is frustratingly level-headed and thinks through all sides of a situation or scenario.

Joani teaches 7th-grade science at a public middle school. She is very involved in her school community. She helps run the student council, the academic team, drama club, 8th-grade NY/DC trip, and coaches middle school volleyball.

Joani also greatly enjoys art in any medium. She takes pictures, paints, draws, sculpts, and revels in making a colorful mess with plenty of sparkles. Her favorite artistic outlet is after school with her drama kids; whether that is snapping pictures, bedazzling a costume, or painting faces.

She enjoys watching Harry Potter, rom-coms, sitcoms, and sports. She has been known to binge on documentary series as well. She can be found dancing or screeching to a wide variety of music: pop, country, rock, rap, show tunes, Disney, etc. Her ideal afternoon is a cool fall day snuggled up in a cozy blanket, surrounded by her kitty cats, watching college football, or reading a book series.

Danny's favorite thing about Joani is that she is always selfless, putting others before herself.

Fun Facts:

• She loves Harry Potter, and is a Gryffindor.
• She enjoys decorating with all things shiny and bright for Halloween & Christmas
• She will never turn down a chill day at the pool, even if it is chilly
• She likes to stay curled up in bed under 2 or 3 comforters snuggled up with the cats & read on a cold morning
• She gets overly invested in stories. She has been known to cry at Disney movies, and be too hyped after upbeat movies to sleep.

Danny works as a road maintenance engineer. He enjoys plowing snow in the wintertime and is glad his work schedule is flexible.

Most of Danny's free time is spent watching or playing sports.

He has played baseball, soccer, basketball, football, volleyball, and hockey. He still plays softball weekly. He also enjoys movies and the occasional audiobook.

His "teams" are:

• MLB: Cincinnati Reds
• NFL: Cincy Bengals or Carolina Panthers
• NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks, or Vegas Golden Knights
• College Teams: Ohio State, North Caroline, Oregon, Vanderbilt, and TCU
• Joani's favorite thing about Danny is the way he wears his heart on his sleeve and his hat backwards.

Fun Facts

• He was born in North Carolina due to his father's military service
• He gets a bit competitive when it comes to games, especially sports
• It's hard to find a movie he can't come up with a quote from
• He only wears Nike Dri-Fit socks and shirts, occasionally Under Armor too
• It is nearly impossible to be in a bad mood around him; if he can't get you to crack a smile, he'll pester one out of you.

• Love our future child unconditionally
• Laugh and give hugs often
• Always be there with a shoulder to cry on
• Listen free of judgment
• Remind our child how special they are
• Support them in their education and other endeavors
• Encourage them to try new things
• Appreciate your selfless decision every day
• Be thankful for every second we are blessed to call them ours

WITH LOVE,

Danny & Joani